Reports of food poisoning outbreak under investigation
****************************************************** The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (September 9) called on people to be on guard against food-borne diseases.
The appeal came after CHP received four reports of suspected food poisoning involving nine people, three males and six females aged between 21 and 55, who had eaten at a restaurant in Sha Tin between September 6 and 8.
The first group, involving a man and a woman both aged 25, had dinner in the restaurant on September 6. The second group - a 55-year-old man and a 36-year-old woman - and the third group, comprising a 47-year-old man and a 45-year-old woman, had lunch there on September 7. The fourth group comprising three women aged from 21 to 42 had lunch in the same restaurant on September 8.
They developed diarrhoea, abdominal pains and vomiting 13.5 to 20 hours after the meals.
Their symptoms were generally mild. Five of them sought medical treatments from private doctors. Two approached the Accident and Emergency Departments of Prince of Wales Hospital and two other attended the Accident and Emergency Departments of North District Hospital for treatment. None required hospitalisation. All are in stable condition.
CHP's initial investigations suggested that bacterial contamination was the likely cause for these outbreaks. Further investigation is in progress.
CHP reminded people, especially food handlers,to observe good personal and environmental hygiene to prevent food-borne diseases. They are advised to take the following measures:
* Clean and cook food thoroughly before consumption, particularly crustacean and bivalve seafood such as shrimp, crab, oysters and clams;
* Wash hands before eating and after going to toilet;
* Handle raw and cooked food with separate utensils to prevent cross contamination;
* Keep raw and cooked food separately;
* Store food in refrigerator (at 4 degree Celsius or below) and adequately reheat leftover food before consumption; and
* Keep the environment clean.
****************************************************** The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (September 9) called on people to be on guard against food-borne diseases.
The appeal came after CHP received four reports of suspected food poisoning involving nine people, three males and six females aged between 21 and 55, who had eaten at a restaurant in Sha Tin between September 6 and 8.
The first group, involving a man and a woman both aged 25, had dinner in the restaurant on September 6. The second group - a 55-year-old man and a 36-year-old woman - and the third group, comprising a 47-year-old man and a 45-year-old woman, had lunch there on September 7. The fourth group comprising three women aged from 21 to 42 had lunch in the same restaurant on September 8.
They developed diarrhoea, abdominal pains and vomiting 13.5 to 20 hours after the meals.
Their symptoms were generally mild. Five of them sought medical treatments from private doctors. Two approached the Accident and Emergency Departments of Prince of Wales Hospital and two other attended the Accident and Emergency Departments of North District Hospital for treatment. None required hospitalisation. All are in stable condition.
CHP's initial investigations suggested that bacterial contamination was the likely cause for these outbreaks. Further investigation is in progress.
CHP reminded people, especially food handlers,to observe good personal and environmental hygiene to prevent food-borne diseases. They are advised to take the following measures:
* Clean and cook food thoroughly before consumption, particularly crustacean and bivalve seafood such as shrimp, crab, oysters and clams;
* Wash hands before eating and after going to toilet;
* Handle raw and cooked food with separate utensils to prevent cross contamination;
* Keep raw and cooked food separately;
* Store food in refrigerator (at 4 degree Celsius or below) and adequately reheat leftover food before consumption; and
* Keep the environment clean.
Ends/Friday, September 9, 2005
Issued at HKT 18:09
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